Crystal Palace Insists Wilfried Zaha Is Not For Sale

 

Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish insists he will not sell winger Wilfried Zaha to Tottenham this summer despite the winger asking to leave for White Hart Lane. It is understood that Zaha has met with Palace manager Alan Pardew and told him he wants to join Spurs, who will play Champions League football this season following their third-place finish last term.

Parish said “We had a bid from Spurs but £12m - it's ridiculous. I can't imagine that they're serious. There's no chance whatsoever of Wilfried Zaha leaving the club in this transfer window. I can absolutely reassure every Palace fan he is an integral part of our plans. We've told Spurs that there is really no point bidding for him because he is going nowhere - 100 per cent guaranteed. It's not right really that players get their heads turned. I was told that the manager there thinks he's the next Ronaldo. Well I'd like to get the next Ronaldo for £12m. We need to convince Wilfried that Palace is the right place for him and that he can succeed here. I haven't spoken to the player. The manager and the player might have had a conversation but I'm chairman of the football club. I decide who leaves and he's not leaving. He'll have to get his head around that.”

Palace sold winger Yannick Bolasie to Everton last week but have since completed the club-record signing of striker Christian Benteke from Liverpool.